Candidate Information

Candidates for office must meet certain qualifications and are required
to file specific documents in order to qualify to appear on the ballot.
These qualifications and requirements may vary slightly depending on
whether the office sought is a local office, a general assembly seat, a
statewide office, or a federal office. Generally, all candidates must
meet the following minimum qualifications:

(1) A candidate must be qualified to vote for and to hold the office
being sought.
(2) A candidate must have been a resident of the Commonwealth of
Virginia for at least one year immediately preceding the election.

Citizens who are interested in running for state or local offices in
Virginia, should start by downloading the appropriate
Candidate Information Bulletin from the Virginia Department of
Elections web site to get information about qualifications for a
particular office, filing requirements and deadlines, where to file the
required forms and documents and other information about running for a
particular office. All candidates for office must also comply with state
laws regarding campaign finance and advertising.

Candidate Information, Forms and Reports may also be obtained by
contacting:

Political Signs

Fairfax County candidates who wish to post political signs must comply
with local ordinance, Chapter 9.5 of Title 24.2, Code of
Virginia, and state law prohibits posting political campaign signs on
roads and medians. During the times the polls are open and ballots are
being counted, political signs may be placed outside official polling
places for a maximum of 24 hours, but they are not permitted within 40
feet of any entrance of any polling place, by state law.

2015 Primary Election Filing Fees for Fairfax County Candidates

The filing fee is 2% of the minimum annual salary for the office sought
in effect for the year in which the candidate files. (Code of
Virginia, §24.2-523)

2015 Primary Election Filing Fees
for Fairfax County Candidates - Note: Members of the House of Delegates
file in 2015

Office Sought

Base Salary

Filing Fee

Virginia Senate

$18,000

$360.00

House of Delegates

$17,640

$352.80

Clerk of Court

$140,230

$2,804.60

Commonwealth's Attorney

$139,958

$2,799.16

Sheriff

$142,447

$2,848.94

Board of Supervisors

$75,000

$1,500.00

Notes:
The Constitutional Officers (Commonwealth's Attorney and Sheriff) are
shared with the City of Fairfax. If a candidate lives in the City, he/she
pays the fee to the Treasurer of Fairfax City. If a candidate lives in
the County, he/she pays the fee to the Fairfax County Director of
Finance. (§ 24.2-524)

Candidates for School Board and Soil and Water Conservation Directors
run as independents and, therefore, are not nominated by primary
elections.

The Clerk of Court serves an 8 year term, and is on the ballot every 8
years.

Candidates who are nominated by a political party by a method other
than a primary election may be required to pay a filing fee. This fee
is determined by the rules of the political party. Candidates should
contact the political party chairman for further information.